Israel Adesanya is set to challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight championship at UFC 305, seeking to reclaim the title for a third time. Du Plessis will be defending his championship for the first time after winning it from Sean Strickland in his last fight. Adesanya, on the other hand, is looking for redemption after his unexpected loss to Strickland at UFC 293.
Originally, UFC 293 was meant to see Adesanya defend against du Plessis. However, du Plessis was not ready for the bout after his victory over Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator just two months prior, leading to Strickland stepping in and taking the title from Adesanya.
The matchup has been marred by a heated rivalry between the two fighters, who have had contentious exchanges regarding their backgrounds, each claiming their identity as the true representative of Africa. Adesanya was born in Nigeria before moving to New Zealand, while du Plessis hails from South Africa and fights based there.
The event will also showcase several fighters from Oceania. Australian Steve Erceg aims to bounce back against New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France in a flyweight bout. Additionally, fan-favorite Dan Hooker will face off against Mateusz Gamrot in a lightweight clash, and heavyweight Tai Tuivasa looks to end his losing streak against Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
As UFC 305 approaches, here’s a breakdown of the fight card along with the latest betting odds:
UFC 305 fight card, odds:
– Israel Adesanya -120 vs. Dricus du Plessis (c) +100, middleweight title
– Steve Erceg -160 vs. Kai Kara-France +135, flyweights
– Mateusz Gamrot -350 vs. Dan Hooker +275, lightweights
– Jairzinho Rozenstruik -220 vs. Tai Tuivasa +180, heavyweights
– Carlos Prates -350 vs. Li Jingliang +275, welterweights
– Junior Tafa -130 vs. Valter Walker +110, heavyweights
– Josh Culibao -140 vs. Ricardo Ramos +120, featherweights
– Terez Bleda -150 vs. Casey O’Neill +125, women’s flyweights
– Jack Jenkins -700 vs. Herbert Burns +500, featherweights
– Tom Nolan -1200 vs. Alex Reyes +750, lightweights
– Song Kenan -175 vs. Ricky Glenn +145, welterweights
– Stewart Nicoll -240 vs. Jesus Aguilar +200, flyweights
The CBS Sports team has made predictions for the main card, offering their insights on the upcoming fights:
UFC 305 picks, predictions:
– du Plessis (c) vs. Adesanya: Brent Brookhouse and Shakiel Mahjouri favor du Plessis, while Brian Campbell and Brandon Wise predict a win for Adesanya.
– Erceg vs. Kara-France: All analysts predict a win for Erceg.
– Gamrot vs. Hooker: Most analysts lean towards Gamrot, with some noting potential for an upset.
Regarding the main event, Campbell suggests that if Adesanya struggles early and fails to assert his dominance, it could be a challenging night for him. Brookhouse expresses concerns about Adesanya’s recent performances and questions whether he can regain his former glory against a resurging du Plessis. Mahjouri emphasizes the uncertainty of the fight, expecting Adesanya’s expertise in movement to play a crucial role.
In the lightweight bout, Brookhouse predicts that Gamrot’s wrestling prowess will likely give him the edge over Hooker, while Mahjouri believes that Hooker’s striking skills may not be sufficient to thwart Gamrot’s game plan.
As UFC 305 draws near, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these matchups unfold and which fighters will emerge victorious.